7 SLA soldiers killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 October 1999, 18:00 GMT]
Seven Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and one wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked an army unit at Meeravodai about 30 km. north-east of Batticaloa, around 5.45 p.m. this evening security sources said.

The Tigers attacked the SLA unit, which was returning to the camp after a routine patrol, with mortars and small arms the sources said.

They said the troops retaliated by firing shells towards the LTTE positions. The wounded soldier has been transferred to the Polannaruwa hospital, the sources added.

Meanwhile four civilians, including a four month old child, were wounded when a house at Maancholai, near Meeravodai was hit by a shell, sources there said.

The wounded civilians have been transferred to the Batticaloa hospital, they said.